Expansible wrist watch band



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s. MYERSON EXPANSIBLE WRIST WATCH BAND Filed Maron 9. 195s INVENTOR.

SIMON MYERSON ATTORNEYS" United States Patent i EXPANSIBLE WRIST WATCHBAND Simon Myerson, Newton, Mass.

Application March 9, 1953, Serial No. 340,953

6 Claims. (Cl. 224-4) Expansible wrist watch bands of the type that maybe slipped on or ofi without disconnecting the sections generally fallinto one of the two classes, viz., those embodying foldable links, andthose comprising links and associated retracting springs. The formertype is subject to the objection that in time the links become so wornthat they are apt to unfold with a result that the wrist watch and bandmay accidentally drop off the wrist; and the latter type isobjectionable in that it is quite difficult to select the precise numberof links either to prevent uncomfortable binding of the band about thewrist or avoid objectionable looseness which is apt to cause the watchand band to slide ofi the wrist or shift its position on the wrist ifthe arm is quickly extended. If the band is under sufficient tension toprevent objectionable looseness, it tends to indent the skin andirritate the wearer.

The principal objects of the present invention are to overcome theaforementioned objectionable features and to provide a band for a Wristwatch or the like article which is of simple design and of pleasingappearance, which is of strong and durable construction, which may bereadily slipped on and ofi the wrist, which may be made secure on thewrist without binding or otherwise irritating the wearer and which canbe manufactured at a relatively low cost.

Further objects relate to various features of construction and will beapparent from a consideration of the following description and theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a wrist watch band constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the sections in retracted position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the sections expanded;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line S-S of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an isometric of the end connector for attaching one of thesections to a wrist watch or the like;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but showing a further embodiment ofthe invention; and

Fig. 9 is a view showing a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig.8.

ln accordance with the present invention I provide a band for a wristwatch or the like article, which comprises two relatively non-expandablesections, each having an end attachable to the wrist watch, and theadjacent ends of these sections carry interengaging coupling means suchas a buckle, hook, snap or the like by which they may be detachablysecured together. A retracting member or band is juxtaposed to the twosections and connected therewith so as to extend across the couplingmeans normally to hold the two sections in position to complete theencirclement about the wrist. The sections are preferably so constructedas to provide a sheath or housing for the retracting member and theparts are made from material which not only provides an attractive ap-2,751,132 Patented June 19, 1956 ICC pearance, but also is acceptable tothe skin of different people. In any case, the retracting member issufficiently expandable so that the ensemble may be slipped or or offthe wrist when the coupling members are detached, but it is preferablyso constructed and arranged to exert only sufiicient force to bring thesections back to normal wrist encircling position without binding thewrist of the wearer.

The accompanying drawings show different embodiments of the inventionchosen for the purpose of illustration and referring to Figs. 1 to 6 thenumerals 1 and 2 designate the two detachable, relatively non-expandablesections which may be of leather or the like suitable material. Thesesections comprise outer and inner elongate straps 4, 5, 6 and 7, whichmay be of leather, plastic or other suitable material, stitched togetherat their elongate edges to provide sheaths 10 and 11 (Figs. 4 and 5).

The opposite ends of the sections 1 and 2 carry attaching hooks 12 (Fig.6) by means of which they may be secured to the coupling pintles 14(Fig. 2) of a wrist watch (not shown), and the adjacent ends of theouter straps 4 and 5 carry interengaging locking means here shown as asnap fastener having male and female parts 15 and 16.

A retracting member, here shown in the form of an elastic webbing 18,has its opposite ends secured to the opposite end portions of sections 4and 5 and to this end the inwardly directed flanges 20 and 2,1 (Fig. 6)of the coupling 12 may be formed with inwardly struck detents 22 and 23effective to hold the parts together. The retracting member 18 extendsthrough the sheath 10, across the adjacent ends of the sections 1 and 2and through the sheath 11, as shown in Figs. 2 to 5, thus being entirelyconcealed when the band is worn. The length and retractability of theweb 18 is such that is preferably exactly effective to hold the twosections in normal retracted position (Figs. l and 2) so that thecoupling member is in position to be interlocked, but its elasticity issuch as to permit sufficient expansion when the coupling member isdisengaged to allow the band to be slipped on or ofi the wrist.

In order to avoid both objectionable binding and looseness of the bandabout the wrist of the wearer, it is preferable that the hooks 12 arenot at first permanently attached to the opposite ends of the sections 1and 2 and hence the band may be fitted to the wearers wrist. To this endthe coupling member is first interlocked and the hooks 12 are applied tothe pintles 14 of the wrist watch. The opposite ends of the sections arethen slipped beneath the flanges 20 and 21 of the hooks 12 and whileholding the parts together the ensemble may be fitted about the wrist ofthe wearer to determine the precise length of the two sections necessaryto secure a snug comfortable fit, after which the detents 22, 23 arepressed inwardly so as permanently to hold the parts together. However,the invention is not limited to this feature since very desirableresults may be achieved by the manufacture of a sufficient range ofsizes.

With this construction and arrangement of parts the sections 1 and 2 areeffective to provide the encircling band which holds the ensemble inplace and prevents expansion; and the retracting member 18 not onlyprovides a second band preventing the ensemble from slipping off thewrist in event the coupling member 18 accidentally becomes disengagedbut also allows sufiicient expansion to permit the ensemble to bequickly slipped on or off the wrist.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 7 is, in principal, the same as that of thepreviously described embodiment, but provides a less expensiveconstruction designed to be made in a range of sizes. In this embodimentthe sections la and 2a each consists of a leather strap or the like, theopposite end portions of which are folded inwardly to form small loops12a for receiving coupling pintles 14 of a wrist watch and inwardlydirected aps 25 to which the ends of a retracting member 18a arestitched or otherwise secured, the retracting 'memberpreferably beingslightly narrower than the sections 1a and 1b so as to substantially-beconcealed thereby, Whenthe band is worn. The adjacent ends of thesections carry suitably interlocking fastening elements 26 'and 27 bymeans of which they may be detachably secured together, the constructionand arrangement of `parts being such that the retracting member 13anormally holds the sections to gether so that the elements 26 and 27 maybe coupled, but preferably without exerting ya retracting rforce on thesections when coupled together. In all material particulars the band ofthis embodiment is the same as that above described.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 8 is also the same, in principal, as thosepreviously described and each ot the sections 1b and 2b consist ofaplurality of pivotally interconnected tubular links 38. The outer linkof'each section is formed with an integral hooked extension 12b by whichthe section may be secured to the pintle 14 of a wrist watch. The innerlink of section 1b is formed with an integral hook 32 and the inner linkof section 2b is formed with a slot 33 which receives the -hook 32 so asto couple the sections in normal retracted position. The retractingmember may consist of one or more tension springs 3S extending throughthe links 30 of the two sections with their opposite ends secured to theouter links by pins 36. Here again the springs 35 are effective toretract the sections to permit the inner links to be `interlocked, andthus the sections are held in normal position as in the previouslydescribed embodiment.

The modification shown in Fig. 9 embodies the same 'basic constructionas shown `in Fig. 8, but is provided with a single retracting spring orband 35a, one end of which is coupled to one ofthe pintles 40 ofthewrist watch W and the opposite end is coupled to the other pintle 40, itbeing understood that the coupling members of the watch W are shownseparately merely'for the purpose of illustration. One orboth terminal`links 30a of the non-expandable section is formed with a Alockingtongue 42 by lmeans of which the terminal link may be detachably securedto the adjacent pinfle 4t). ltwill be noted that the links 30, 30aprovide a non-expandable, detachable band and the spring 35a provide anon-detachable, expandable band which holds the ensemble about the wristof the wearer, even if the non-expandable band 30, Stia should beaccidentally disconnected.

While reference has been made herein to a watch, as a component of theband, the watch may be omitted and the ends so joined as to make acontinuous bandolbracelet. In such cases, the bracelet will comprise anouexpandable element completely encircling the wrist and an expandableelement also completely encircling the wrist. The said element may havea Vsegment of the band in common, as in the case of the wrist watch.

While I have shown and described different desirable embodiments of theinvention it' is to be understood that this disclosure is for thepurpose of illustration and that various changes and modications may bemade-without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A wrist watch band comprising two sections, corresponding ends ofwhich may be attached to a wrist watch, the other ends of said sectionshaving interengageable coupling means by which such ends are detachablyconnected when the band is worn about the wrist, each of said sectionshaving an elongate sheath, andan elongate retracting member 'having aportion within one sheath and another portion within the other sheath,said retracting member extending across said coupling means and itsopposite ends being anchored to the Vrespective sheaths, the normallength of said retracting member being less than that of the twosections so as to exert a retract'ing force which normally holds the twosections snugly about the Wrist, the expanded length of said retractingmember being sufficient t'o permit removal of the band from the wristwhen said coupling means are detached.

2. A wrist watch band comprising two sections, corresponding ends ofwhich may be attached'to a wrist watch,

-the other ends Vof said sections having interengageable coupling meansby which such ends are detachably connected when the band is worn aboutthe wrist,each of said sections having an elongate flexible member, andelongate retracting means having a portion adjacent to one llexiblemember and another portion adjacent to the other exible member, saidretracting means extending across said ycoupling means and its oppositeends being anchored relative to the watch when the band is attachedthereto, the normal'lengt'h of said retractiug means lbeing 'less thanthat of the two sections so as-to exert a retracting force whichnormally holds the two sections snugly about the wrist', the expandedlength of said retracting means being sutiicient to permit removal ofthe band from the wrist when said coupling means are detached.

3. A wrist watch band as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retractingmeans comprises a tension spring.

4. A wrist watch band as set forth in claim 2 wherein the opposite endsof said retracting means are anchored adjacent to the outer ends of saidsections.

5. A wrist watch band as set forth in claim 2-Wherein cach of saidsections comprises a `plurality of pivotally interconnected links.

6. A wrist watch band as set forth in claim 5 wherein said links arehollow and wherein said retracting means extends through said hollowlinks.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,315,729 lolly Sept. 9, V1919 2,558,007 Smith .Tune 26, 1951 2,639,067Hirsch May 19,. 1953 2,686,622 Augenstein Aug. 17, 1954 2,695,740 KolbeNov. 30, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 289,923 Switzerland May 16, 1952 729,182France Apr. 25, 1932 814,672 Germany Sept. 24, 1951

